- Philip Bent
forces.
Details
He was 26 years old, and a Temporary
Lieutenant Colonel in the ninth Bn.,The Leicestershire Regiment ,British Army during the First World War when the following deed took place for which he was awarded the VC.Action
On
1 October 1917 east ofPolygon Wood ,Zonnebeke ,Belgium , when the situation was critical owing to the confusion caused by a heavy enemy attack and the intense artillery fire, Lieutenant Colonel Bent collected a platoon that was in reserve and together with men from other companies and various regimental details, he organised and led them forward to the counter-attack, which was successful and the enemy were checked. The coolness and magnificent example of the colonel resulted in the securing of a portion of the line essential to subsequent operation, but he was killed whilst leading a charge.Further information
Bent was born in Halifax,
Nova Scotia and was educated at the Royal High School, Edinburgh andAshby Grammar School ,Ashby de la Zouch . He joined the training ship HMS "Conway" in 1907. He served two years as a Cadet and then went to sea. He was taking his Merchant Navy officer's tickets when the war broke out in 1914.He and a friend joined a Scottish regiment for a bit of fun as the war was anticipated to be over by Christmas. He was some months later commissioned in the Leicestershire Regiment.
He has no known grave and is commemorated on the memorial wall at
Tyne Cot Cemetery , Belgium.The medal
His Victoria Cross is displayed at the
Museum of the Royal Leicestershire Regiment "(Leicester, England)".References
*
Monuments to Courage (David Harvey, 1999)
*The Register of the Victoria Cross (This England, 1997)
*VCs of the First World War - Passchendaele 1917 (Stephen Snelling, 1998)
*D G Fletcher Rogers, Mike MuncasterExternal links
* [http://www.vac-acc.gc.ca/remembers/sub.cfm?source=collections/virtualmem/Detail&casualty=7600003 Service details, citation, burial information - from Veteran Affairs Canada]
* [http://www.legionmagazine.com/features/victoriacross/05-05.asp Legion Magazine Article on Philip Bent]
* [http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=9404504 Find-A-Grave profile for Philip Bent]
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